Dr Lorenza Fluks is an engaged social scientist whose work bridges research, policy and practice to strengthen inclusive science systems, meaningful youth participation and community-engaged research across Africa. Dr Fluks holds a PhD in Psychology from Stellenbosch University. She currently serves as a senior research specialist in the Centre for Science in Society within the Equitable Education and Economies Division of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), South Africa. 

Her research has consistently centred on the relationships between young people, communities and institutions, with a particular focus on youth engagement, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, community-based research, and equitable science and innovation systems. 

She has led and contributed to research across multiple African countries, combining qualitative and participatory methodologies to co-produce evidence that informs policy, practice and institutional change. Her doctoral work explored the psychosocial dimensions of university-community engagement, laying the foundation for an enduring research programme on relational approaches to engagement.

Dr Fluks recently served as principal investigator of the Science Granting Councils Initiative “Gender Equality and Inclusivity Project”, a multi-country initiative working with 13 science granting councils across sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen gender-transformative research funding. 

She previously served as project director for the initiative and has led qualitative research, capacity strengthening and stakeholder engagement across government, higher education and civil society. She is also a member of the HSRC Research Ethics Committee and regularly teaches on ethical issues in community-based research and computer-assisted qualitative analysis.

She has authored 11 peer-reviewed publications, including journal articles and book chapters, more than 20 client reports and policy resources spanning youth wellbeing, community engagement, gender and equity, science systems, HIV research, gender and intersectionality in antimicrobial resistance research, and qualitative methodology. 

Increasingly recognised internationally, she has presented her research at the United Nations General Assembly Science Summit, the Women20 Summit and numerous international conferences. 

In 2025, under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, she led two G20 side events celebrating women and girls in science, and a Women20 outreach event focused on supporting young women in STEM to bridge the education-to-employment gap, further advancing her commitment to inclusive, engaged and socially responsive research.